The Wealth of Nations at 250: understanding prosperity and development in the modern world

British Academy Conferences bring together scholars from around the world to present, discuss and consolidate new research in the humanities and social sciences.

What makes nations wealthy? This question, first systematically explored by Adam Smith 250 years ago, remains as pressing today as it was in 1776 when Smith published An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. Despite remarkable advances since Smith's time, stark inequalities persist globally, whilst even advanced economies face significant productivity slowdowns. This landmark conference brings together world-leading economists and economic historians to examine our current understanding of prosperity and development. Speakers will address fundamental questions from diverse perspectives – from geography and institutions to culture, gender and human behaviour. Marking the 250th anniversary of the Wealth of Nations at Smith's intellectual home, the University of Glasgow, this event will illuminate what drives economic success in the modern world.

Conference convenor

• Alex Trew, University of Glasgow

Speakers

• Robert C. Allen, NYU Abu Dhabi
• Gareth Austin, University of Cambridge
• Sascha O. Becker, University of Warwick and Monash University
• Tim Besley, London School of Economics (LSE)
• Oded Galor, Brown University
• Douglas Gollin, Tufts University
• Jane Humphries, University of Oxford and LSE
• Deirdre N. McCloskey, Cato Institute
• Nancy Qian, Northwestern University
• Uwe Sunde, University of Munich (LMU)
• Jacques-François Thisse, Université Catholique de Louvain
• Hans-Joachim Voth, University of Zürich
• Xiaodong Zhu, University of Hong Kong

Further information

Tickets are available now.

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